As part of our Shaping Brains initiative, The Benevolent Society has been delivering MindUP™ to children (ages 5-12) in variety of setting including within school classes, preschool and within community services programs. As part of this initiative The Benevolent Society has been accredited as the only Trainers of MindUP Instructors in Australia. We have recently commenced running MindUP™ training programs across Australia as a professional development opportunity for school and early childhood teachers, guidance officers, counsellors, psychologists, occupational therapists and anyone who works with children aged between 5 and 13. Used successfully in schools throughout the UK and the US MindUp™ is an excellent program to help support children cope with the troubles of today.

SVA Consulting Quarterly Sept issue on Measurement & Evaluation features an interview with Tris Lumley, from New Philanthropy Capital in the UK, who calls on non-profit leaders to hold to and measure against clear goals.

He says that leaders need to be brave and stand by their goals and not be swayed by funders.

"It is up to the chief executive or the boards to say, ‘We need to do this stuff because it’s right, because we’re here to do the best job we possibly can for the people we are trying to help.'...

"There needs to be more focus on the brave leaders who are going to push this forward, who will communicate failures and what they’ve learnt from them, or turn down funding because it takes them away from their theory of change."

Hi folks - here is a short video about a project with which I am involved.... doing important work. Project Australia is raising funds to publish a book to help Australia Not-For-Profit/Community groups Start, Scale and Sustain wonderful life changing projects. Can you help with a donation ? Go here : http://startsomegood.com/handbook

Help The Benevolent Society raise funds to support disadvantaged children by running, jogging or walking for us as a Gold Charity participant in this year's City2Surf. As a Gold Charity participant you'll receive entry into the world's largest run, a start place in the Gold Zone which is just behind the elite and red start runners, a Benevolent Society team shirt and cap, a gold bib, fundraising support from a friendly team plus the knowledge that you are making positive change in children's lives.The race is on Sunday 11th August 2013.

Recent media is further proof that there is still so much to be done around intolerance and attitudes that divide rather than draw communities together. We still fear what we don't know. And all of us who have been through SLA know that many of the problems that don't go away often don't have simple solutions.

For the past 4.5 months we have been working on seeing ways that we could tackle social exclusion of young people with disabilities in high schools across NSW. We know that high school years are formative years that can make or break someone. As we've talked to young people and to teachers we've heard stories heard stories of exclusion that shouldn't happen in our modern culture. Schools who forget to invite the senior students with a disability to the school formal. Parents who pick up their kids at lunchtime so that they don't have to be bullied. Teachers who have no choice but to keep kids with disabilities in the "bottom level" class where there are the physical supports, when they should be topping the most advanced classes. MORE >

Australia’s first and oldest charity, The Benevolent Society is celebrating our 200th birthday on 8 May 2013!

We are marking our 200 year history of helping people change their lives and driving social change.

The Benevolent Society was founded in Sydney in 1813 and fought for many social supports Australians take for granted today, including free legal aid, the old age pension, the end of child labour and high quality maternity care.

Come down to Martin Place where our world-first convertible mobile kitchen will be set up and join the celebrations.

As you are may be aware, The Benevolent Society is launching the Race for Change - a corporate team bike race established in 2013 to celebrate our 200 years anniversary! This is targeted at teams of keen cyclists in the corporate world but could also be of interest to others. Teams will race against each other and raise money for The Benevolent Society while doing so!

Please pass this on to your network to encourage more teams to register and raise $$.

SHINE for Kids is a not for profit organisation that supports children who are impacted by having a parent in the criminal justice system. These are children, aged 0-21, who face the trauma of losing Mum or Dad to prison. Aside from their grief and challenges in understanding what has happened to them and their family, these children can find themselves socially, economically and politically isolated. Then there is the stigma that they can face even though they are also victims of the criminal justice system. Affected kids come from all sections and geographies of society but the issue often "hidden". Children from an aboriginal background are unfortunately over-represented (20% of the kids SHINE for Kids helps).

SHINE for Kids operates in NSW (metro and regional), ACT and Victoria. Our head office is based at Silverwater and our board meetings take place on Wednesday evenings in Sydney CBD. MORE >